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memory leak
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memory leak /n./ An error in a program's dynamic-store
allocation logic that causes it to fail to reclaim discarded
memory, leading to eventual collapse due to memory exhaustion.
Also (esp. at CMU) called core leak. These problems were
severe on older machines with small, fixed-size address spaces, and
special "leak detection" tools were commonly written to root them
out. With the advent of virtual memory, it is unfortunately easier
to be sloppy about wasting a bit of memory (although when you run
out of memory on a VM machine, it means you've got a *real*
leak!). See aliasing bug, fandango on core, smash
the stack, precedence lossage, overrun screw, leaky
heap, leak.
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